To the drunk driver

Darkness pushed away by the red and white lights of my ambulance emergency strobe. The quite country side called to attention by with the ambulance siren. "Medic 21, launch med-evac and have P.D. close down the intersection". I had just fallen asleep to Pawn Stars 5 minutes earlier. I was dead tired as well as my partner. We had been running since 1100 hrs and here it is 0250 the next day. The only time I have had to rest is between runs while enroute to the next 911 call.

"Med-evac accepted and ETA 17 minutes" the radio called as it snapped my attention back to the call and away from the recliner that was sitting empty back at the station. "Received dispatch, Medic 21 is 5 minutes out". "Received" droned dispatch.

"What do you think?" Asked my partner. "Drunk, female, small car, and out in this part of the county....most likely a meth head. My partner, the paramedic, trusts my intuition. My partner is also the best damn mentor I have ever had. She begins to draw out an action plan for the "unconscious person in the road" call we just received.

"I want you to get initial impression and I'll get the back setup. If the local F.D. is there, establish vitals and make sure they stay on the airway maintenance." She says as she looks over at me and smiles. "Yeah, yeah, yeah....big dumb fire fighter. Me distracted by bright lights". It's good for a early morning laugh.

When we roll up on scene we are no loner laughing. Flipped on its top is a small car off the road side with a female pt. impaled on a fence post. Beer cans litter the grassy road side. The pt. is drunk, pissed, high on something (suspect meth), and fighting us like a coked out spider monkey. The only time we can subdue her is when she stops breathing and we can finally cut her down.

We have to entubate her and manage her respirations for her. As I am working this scene, a police officer come over and hand me some of her medication.

"While using this medication, do not consume alcohol and
operate a motor vehicle results may cause harm or injury"

You know, I bet if she had read this then none of this would have happened.

First in

I love being first in to a fire. Maybe its the rookie in me or maybe this excitement never goes away. crawling on my hands and knees dragging 100+ of charged hose line with the walls and ceiling on fire and shit exploding around me.

To think that just a few years ago I was just another office rat sitting being a computer dying slowly.

Mr. Bad A

I kind of like John Travolta. He's not a bad actor and some of the sly cool type movies he plays in are some of my favorites. But...uh...was any one else creeped out when they saw this magazine cover at the grocery store.

He went from Mr. Cool to creep dude. Like L. Ron Hubberd creepy.

Paramedic

Did I mention that I was in paramedic school? Yeah, I am about half way in the school... well maybe 1/4. It's a long and very detailed career. Almost like drinking from a fire hydrant. You'll get the water, just not the way you wanted it. Same with school.

Holy guacamole! Just the drugs alone are mind numbing. I have to recall several dozen drugs, their class, actions, indications, contraindications, precautions, side effects, dosage, onset, peak effects, route, pediatric dosage, and other special notes. I have to know all of this and recall it all like it is second nature or I get knocked points.

So I mention all this so you folks now why I am not posting very much.

BTW, January Jones is a mega-babe!

Being watched?

In my last post I discussed how I am done with New Years resolutions. Now everywhere I turn the media is talking about it. On the radio they are talking about it. In the Newspapers there are articles about people not doing it.

Am I Trend setter? I like to think so..... :P

No, facebook

Some of you have asked if I will be making a facebook page in hopes that I will post more. Since I view this as the same as tweeting and I adore having a following of twits... no facebook in the time being. I will also not promise to post more. We all know that I vow to do it and promptly fail to execute it as with all my new years vows.

While we are at it. I am fine the way I am and damn with vowing to make major changes at the beginning of the year. I plan to drink, play video games, and start construction projects in which they will remain unfinished.

Good day and this next beer is in your honor Mr.-whine-my-ear-off-in-email.

xoxoxoxo

Frogger

The AP is reporting that a man playing a real life version of Frogger has been hospitalized. I hate to correct them but I do believe he was playing a real life version of Darwin's theory. It's a shame.... he almost won.

48's

Saying "48" is a bitter sweet word with fire fighters/EMS. On one hand we hear "CHA-CHING" and on the other hand we know we are in for a grueling double shift that spans 48 hours.

Running calls almost all day and night long is hard enough. Doing that for two days straight is a test of endurance. It does come with a few perks. The Captain let's you crash in the crew quarters after truck check in the morning. So the mid-day nap is a life saver! But you have to deal with missing your family for two days, trying to find something to eat, sleep deprivation, cranky attitudes, MAYBE getting a shower, and if your lucky enough to remember to bring several pairs of socks! If you forget the socks you are bound to get "trench foot". Major sucko!

Some how, some way, I signed up for two 48's back-to-back with a one day spacer. I guess I wasn't paying attention or something.... something I am going to remedy from now on! But I am back in the bloggers seat and the calender is free of 48's.

Tesla forever!

On this day...

Ireland ratified their constitution on this day. For better or worse? I see my family's home county voted against this resolution and like true Irish tradition is a pain in the royal arse!

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland.

Read, discuss, drink a pint!